Eight Prayers to Benefit the Dead Contents Introduction 5 FPMT Inc. King of Prayers 7 1632 SE 11th Avenue Portland, OR 97214 USA www.fpmt.org Dedication Chapter from Shantideva’s Bodhicharyavatara 17 © 2008 FPMT Inc. Prayer to be Reborn in the Land of Bliss 25 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, Prayer for the Beginning, Middle, and End 33 electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informati on storage and retrieval system or technologies now known Until Buddhahood 39 or developed, without permission in writi ng from the publisher. A Daily Prayer to Maitreya Bodhisattva 41 Prayer for a Statue of Maitreya 47 Prayer for Spontaneous Bliss 51 Prostrations to the Thirty-five Confession Buddhas 55 4 Eight Prayers to Benefit the Dead Eight Prayers to Benefit the Dead 5 Introduction This booklet contains the eight prayers that are traditi on- ally done in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries when someone passes away. According to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, we abso- lutely must do something to benefi t those beings who have died. Rinpoche recommends Medicine Buddha Puja, Medi- cine Buddha practi ces in general, and this collecti on of eight prayers as being the most important practi ces to do at this ti me. In additi on, one may do the practi ce of Prostrati ons to the Thirty-Five Confession Buddhas. That practi ce is in- cluded at the end of this booklet. Lama Zopa Rinpoche also recommends many other practi ces that can be done, if people are able. These include reciti ng a certain number of the King of Prayers for one full day or for a weekend; off ering the Vajrasatt va tsog prac- ti ce; making extensive light off erings or any other kind of extensive off erings; doing Nyung Nä retreat or a weekend Vajrasatt va, Medicine Buddha, or Chenrezig retreat (or all of them!); meditati ng on tonglen and dedicati ng it to the person who has died (while doing the meditati on, recite OM MANI PADME HUM); reciti ng the Vajra Cutt er Sutra; reciti ng and meditati ng on the Heart Sutra; meditati ng on empti ness and dedicati ng for the person who died; Dorje Khadro fi re puja; making stupa tsa-tsas (this an create the cause for a person to receive a good rebirth rather than one in the low- er realms); making Mitrugpa tsa-tsas; sponsoring the publi- cati on of Dharma books; making off erings on the person’s behalf to the Three Jewels, the Sangha, lay students with 6 Eight Prayers to Benefit the Dead Eight Prayers to Benefit the Dead 7 the same Guru as that person, or the Dharma center; or of- fering charity on the person’s behalf to sick people, home- less people, poor people, chariti es, and animals. These are examples of what can be done to benefit a being who has died, but again, the essential practices are The King of Prayers Medicine Buddha and the prayers in this booklet. These practices bring immense benefit to one who has died, and helps them on their journey to their next life. The Extraordinary Aspiration of the Practice of Samantabhadra I bow down to the youthful Arya Manjushri. You lions among humans, Gone to freedom in the present, past and future In the worlds of ten directi ons, To all of you, with body, speech, and sincere mind, I bow down. With the energy of aspirati on for the bodhisatt va way, With a sense of deep respect, And with as many bodies as atoms of the world, To all you buddhas visualized as real, I bow down. On every atom are buddhas numberless as atoms, Each amidst a host of bodhisatt vas, And I am confi dent the sphere of all phenomena Is enti rely fi lled with buddhas in this way. With infi nite oceans of praise for you, And oceans of sound from the aspects of my voice, I sing the breathtaking excellence of buddhas, And celebrate all of you gone to bliss. Beauti ful fl owers and regal garlands, Sweet music, scented oils, and parasols, 8 Eight Prayers to Benefit the Dead Eight Prayers to Benefit the Dead 9 Sparkling lights and sublime incense, Whatever slight positi ve potenti al I may have created, I off er to you victorious ones. By paying homage, off ering, and acknowledging my faults, Rejoicing, and requesti ng that the buddhas stay and teach, Fine dress and fragrant perfumes, I now dedicate all this for full awakening. Sandalwood powder heaped high as Mount Meru, All wondrous off erings in spectacular array, May you buddhas now living in the worlds of ten directi ons, I off er to you victorious ones. And all you gone to freedom in the past, accept my off erings. May those not yet arisen quickly perfect their minds, With transcendent off erings peerless and vast, Awakening as fully enlightened ones. With profound admirati on for all the buddhas, With strength of convicti on in the bodhisatt va way, May all worlds in ten directi ons, I off er and bow down to all victorious ones. Be enti rely pure and vast. May they be fi lled with bodhisatt vas Every harmful acti on I have done Surrounding buddhas gathered beneath a bodhi tree. With my body, speech, and mind Overwhelmed by att achment, anger, and confusion, May as many beings as exist in ten directi ons All these I openly lay bare before you. Be always well and happy. May all samsaric beings live in accord with the Dharma, I lift up my heart and rejoice in all positi ve potenti al And may their every Dharma wish be fulfi lled. Of the buddhas and bodhisatt vas in ten directi ons, Of solitary realizers, hearers sti ll training, and those beyond, Remembering my past lives in all varieti es of existence, And of all ordinary beings. May I practi ce the bodhisatt va way, And thus, in each cycle of death, migrati on, and birth, You who are the bright lights of worlds in ten directi ons, May I always abandon the householder’s life. Who have att ained a buddha’s omniscience through the stages of awakening, Then, following in the footsteps of all the buddhas, All you who are my guides, And perfecti ng the practi ce of a bodhisatt va, Please turn the supreme wheel of Dharma. May I always act without error or compromise, With ethical discipline faultless and pure. With palms together I earnestly request: You who may actualize parinirvana, May I teach the Dharma in the language of gods, Please stay with us for eons numberless as atoms of In every language of spirits and nagas, the world, Of humans and of demons, For the happiness and well-being of all wanderers in samsara. And in the voice of every form of being. 10 Eight Prayers to Benefit the Dead Eight Prayers to Benefit the Dead 11 May I be gentle-minded, culti vati ng the six paramitas, May I hold within me the Buddha’s genuine Dharma, And never forget bodhichitt a. Illuminate everywhere the teachings that awaken, May I completely cleanse without omission Embody the realizati ons of a bodhisatt va, Every negati vity and all that obscures this awakening mind. And practi ce ardently in all future eons. May I traverse all my lives in the world, While circling through all states of existence, Free of karma, affl icti ons, and interfering forces, May I become an endless treasure of good qualiti es – Just as the lotus blossom is undisturbed by the water’s wave, Skillful means, wisdom, samadhi, and liberati ng stabilizati ons – Just as the sun and moon move unhindered through the sky. Gathering limitless pristi ne wisdom and positi ve potenti al. May I ease the suff ering in the lower realms On one atom I shall see And in the many directi ons and dimensions of the universe. Buddha fi elds numberless as atoms, May I guide all wanderers in samsara to the pure bliss Inconceivable buddhas among bodhisatt vas in every fi eld, of awakening Practi cing the acti viti es of awakening. And be of worldly benefi t to them as well. Perceiving this in all directi ons, May I practi ce constantly for eons to come, I dive into an ocean of buddha-fi elds, Perfecti ng the acti viti es of awakening, Each an ocean of three ti mes’ buddhas in the space of a wisp Acti ng in harmony with the various dispositi ons of beings, of hair. Showing the ways of a bodhisatt va. So I, too, will practi ce for an ocean of eons. May I always have the friendship Thus, I am conti nually immersed in the speech of the buddhas, Of those whose path is like mine, Expression that reveals an ocean of qualiti es in one word, And with body, words, and also mind, The completely pure eloquence of all the buddhas, May we practi ce together the same aspirati ons and acti viti es. Communicati on suited to the varied tendencies of beings. May I always meet a spiritual mentor With strength of understanding I plunge And never displease that excellent friend, Into the infi nite enlightened speech of the Dharma Who deeply wishes to help me Of all buddhas in three ti mes gone to freedom, And expertly teaches the bodhisatt va way. Who conti nually turn the wheel of Dharma methods.